In the remote Loreng Village of Turkana West Sub County of Turkana County, USAID Nawiri-supported Business Group participants are thriving in their various ventures.
Besides using their business proceeds to enhance household nutrition, they are also investing part of their profits to restock livestock after a series of failed rainfall sessions that resulted in significant losses.
Nachio Ngiro, a member of the Kalokipom Business Group in Loreng Village, is a proud mother who has been gradually increasing her herd of shoats using profits from her business group over the past few months.
“We started our business in September 2023 after receiving a grant of Sh50,000 and a six-month consumption stipend of Sh6,000 for the three of us. Since then, we have made great progress. Personally, I have been able to buy six goats with the profits from our venture,” shares Ms. Ngiro.
Given the vital role livestock play in Turkana by providing milk for children and mothers to improve nutritional status, the mother of six is glad that her children will soon receive adequate milk to supplement their diets.
As part of livelihood diversification aimed at enhancing community resilience, Ms Nachio takes pride in combining livestock keeping with her food business as it empowers her to better withstand potential future shocks that may impact on one aspect of the livelihood.
In addition to business support, Ms. Nachio and the other participants have undergone training on health and nutrition designed to promote optimal health behaviors within their households and address the underlying drivers of malnutrition.
As they approach graduation scheduled in March 2024, after 18-month period of business support, mentorship and coaching, these participants are delighted mothers—initially drawn from extremely vulnerable households with high rates of malnutrition under the Kalokipom Business Group—are happy that they now possess businesses valued at Sh71,000 and feel confident about continuing independently moving forward.
By Peter Gitonga
